Big Time Baseball Free Agents

This off-season marks an unprecedented number of big time free agents who find themselves completely open to moving anywhere in the country, given you have the dough available to do so.

It also marks a timeless struggle between the Yankees and every other team in baseball for the best players in the market. We all know the Yankees have deep pockets, but now there are teams across the country that have equally deep, or even deeper pockets to go after those prize-possession players.

I'm going to give a breakdown of the big name players available, issues teams might run into, hints at where they want to play and anything else I see fit.

C.C. Sabathia -

Negatives: I hate this guy. He's 300 pounds, pitched well over 8,000 innings last season and can be incredibly un-impressive at times. Pitched a TON of inning last year, big health question mark.

Positives: FILTHY slider, I mean un-hittable stuff at times. Durable up to this point. He will do anything it takes to win (like when he pitched the Brewers into the playoffs BY HIMSELF) including pitching consecutive complete games on short rest. The fact that it's completely within the realm of possibility to hear a story in which he is "running around a McDonald's stealing every one's hamburgers and jamming them down his throat."

That last point means I'm dubbing C.C. the new "Hamburglar." This is something that hasn't been mentioned since Bartolo Colon's fat ass came into Anaheim and stunk up the joint with his sausage fingers...

Being pursued by: Angels, Yankees, Brewers, Giants, Dodgers.

Possible issues: C.C. has made it very obvious that he is trying to move to the left coast. He grew up there and has made it public that he will take less money to be out West once again.

PROJECTION: L.A. Dodgers


Mark Teixeira -

Positives - Pure hitter, hits for power, very patient and is durable...almost a guarantee to hit over 100 RBI's for the next 6-7 years.

Negatives - Seems like he's too perfect, large possibility of turning out to be a robot. (unnecessary maintenance possible)

This guy is as close to having no risk as it comes. He's the best first baseman in the league hands down, yes I think he's as good as Pujols. He's young and title-hungry, go get him at any cost.

Being pursued by: Angels, Yankees, Red Sox, Nationals, Orioles

Possible issues: Scott Boras is his agent. This means LONG negotiations so he can work the numbers in favor of his client. Good thing is that Tex said he wants everything to be figured out by Christmas. His wife "doesn't know anyone in California." Boras wants a 10-year contract for the 28 year old Teixeira...which is RIDICULOUS.

The Yankees are most likely going to either sign C.C. or Teix and then sign another pitcher to nail up their rotation so given the current offer on the table for C.C. they might not be interested in Teix. However, the fact that they have a huge void after releasing Giambi would make you think otherwise. The Angels supposedly have a huge man-crush on him and have specifically stated he is their number one goal this off-season but their recent attention on C.C. would make you think otherwise. Your guess is as good as mine where he ends up

Projection: Los Angeles Angels


Manny Ramirez -

Positives: He can hit the shit out of the ball. He's incredibly loose and can take a lot of pressure off of a stressed clubhouse by making the game fun again. Opens the market for dread lock hats with your teams logo on it. High-fives fans after making catches.

Negatives: He's old and could be cancer on a clubhouse. Only an average left fielder. Has been cited for not trying to play through injuries, or caring for that matter. Opens the market for dread lock hats with your teams logo on it.

Being pursued by: Dodgers, Angels, Orioles

Possible issues: Manny wants a long term contract.

Manny being Manny is one of the most ridiculous attractions a team can have, in good ways and bad. He has a tale of two seasons in '08. He showed how he can ruin a team in the wrong clubhouse (Red Sox) and then went out West and showed how his attitude can bring together a team for the best in the right kind of clubhouse (Dodgers).

Projection: Nationals (They need some publicity to get people at the park, Manny will give it to them)



A.J. Burnett -

Positives: Has #1 stuff when he's on. Can strike out anyone, at any time. Still has 4-5 years left in him.

Negatives: He's 31 and is on the backside of his career. He's has injury problems in nearly every season he has pitched. Never compiled a dominant season in a non-contract year.

Being pursued by: Phillies, Yankees, Orioles, Braves, Red Sox

Possible issues: A.J. is looking for a 5-year deal which could be a bit too much for some teams. Was born in Arkansas, affinity for 210's could take his focus off of pitching.

I think A.J. is going to be the Yankees only decent free agent after C.C. ends up dropping their offer to go out west. He hasn't been impressive, but he's been good enough to warrant some attention. I don't see him being reliable, or being anything better than a #2 his entire career.

Projection: Yankees